By james art The City of Birmingham is considering legal action against Kia and Hyundai Motors.
On Tuesday, the Birmingham City Council approved an agenda item authorizing the mayor and city attorney to “investigate and prosecute any potential claims the city may have in a civil action against Kia America, Inc.” and Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and related parties, in connection with defective design and related claims that resulted in easy theft and burglary of Hyundai and Kia vehicles, as an individual plaintiff, and in class action litigation in which the City may serve as representative of the group.”
Honda and Kia thefts have skyrocketed in recent years.
Videos can be found on TikTok and Youtube demonstrating how a simple vehicle defect allows thieves to hook a car in just minutes.
A little over a year ago, we reported that the City of Birmingham Police Department was providing free anti-theft steering wheel locks to residents who own a Kia or Hyundai in an effort to combat theft.
Birmingham City Council President Darrell O’Quinn says the cost of those resources and time is exactly why the city is considering legal action.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the Hyundai Elantra and Sonata and the Kia Optima were the top 3 stolen vehicles in 2023.
In 2022, 45 Hyundais and 31 Kias were stolen in Birmingham for the year. By September 2023, that number had reached 236 Hyundais and 123 Kias.
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We reached out to BPD on Tuesday for updated numbers on the Kia and Hyundai thefts and have not yet heard back.
O’Quinn says any money raised from the potential lawsuit will likely go back into the city’s general budget unless the city decides to reallocate those funds back to public safety.